Common Pochard

Latin Name:

Aythya ferina

Category:

Size:

45cm

Description:

A stocky, medium-sized, dome-headed diving duck. The male has a distinctive brick-red head and neck, grey body, black breast and stern and a fairly large
black bill with a broad grey band. The female is browner with paler cheeks and flanks. Both show black bordered grey wing-bars in fast, whirring flight.

Habitat:

Inhabits all types of open water including village ponds. Feeds mainly by repeated diving for aquatic plants and animals. Gregarious.

Distribution:

Common winter visitor throughout lowlands. Less common in east.